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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H8MvKr4puoft1kry9xb0RAeO3H+alKBC10GucH8tVk4mNnDay8BQNCL6MaunSEDp
 i91TcSHm7jVbul3BGV+3FQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001224995-03-000025.txt : 20030717
<SEC-HEADER>0001224995-03-000025.hdr.sgml : 20030717
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030716203500
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001224995-03-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030717

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SWEENEY EDWARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001225003

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06453
		FILM NUMBER:		03790187

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR
		STREET 2:		2900 SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087213127

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000070530
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				952095071
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2900 SEMICONDUCTOR DR
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 58090
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95052-8090
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087215000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2900 SEMICONDUCTOR DR
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95052-8090
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000070530</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NSM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225003</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SWEENEY EDWARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option with tandem tax withholding right</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>23.25</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-15</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>75000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-07-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2009-07-15</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>75000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>75000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stock option becomes exercisable 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and then 1/48th per month for the following 36 months.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Nancy Lucke Ludgus  For: Edward J Sweeney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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